SC15.ES.9

Science (2015) Grade(s): 09-12 - Environmental Science

Developing and Using Models

Energy and Matter

Students know:

The pathways by which nitrogen, phosphorus, and water move through the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.

Students are able to:

Model biogeochemical cycles that include the cycling of water, nitrogen, and phosphorus through the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere (including humans).
Use simulations to obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about biogeochemical cycles.
Use simulations to analyze and interpret data related to how matters moves through biogeochemical cycles.
Synthesize, develop, and use models to show relationships between systems and their components in the natural and designed world(s).

Students understand that:

As matter flows through the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere, chemical elements are recombined in different ways to form different products.
The total amount of matter in closed systems is conserved.

nitrogen cycle — nitrates, nitrites, nitrification, denitrification, ammonia, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, nitrogen fixation, ammonification
carbon cycle — photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, sedimentation, erosion, hydrologic cycle, evaporation, transpiration, evapotranspiration, precipitation, condensation, sublimation, percolation
phosphorus cycle — phosphates, decomposition
diffusion
acid precipitation
mental model
conceptual model
functional model
analogy